The 1960's was one of the most tumultuous decades in American history. The decade also gave birth to youth movement that challenged the american political and social system and conventional middle class values. The youth movement of the 1960's includd students for a democratic society and the Free Speech Movement. The Free Speech Movement was led by Mario Savio and others at the University of California at Berkeley. The movement began when the university decided, in the fall 1964, to restrict students rights to distribute literature and to recruit volunteers for political causes on campus the protesters, however, quickly targeted more general campus matters as well. Struggle between Berkeley's students and administrators peaked on Dec. 2, 1964 with a sit-in powerful speech by Savio. Early the next morning 600 police officers entered campus and arrested more than 700 protesters. The arrests had set off a higher protest movement. A campus-wide strike had stopped classes many members of the faculty also voiced their support for the free speech movement. Soon following, the Supreme court upheld students rights to freedom of speech. The Berkeley revolt was one of the first major student protests in the 1960's and became a huge model for others.
